Lost and found, the Dinglingerbrunnen whispers tales of resilience. This baroque fountain is a jewel in Dresden’s heart. It stands as the city’s oldest surviving court fountain. It’s named after Johann Melchior Dinglinger, a master goldsmith. He served August the Strong. Dinglinger had it built for himself.
Now, let’s look closer at the Dinglingerbrunnen’s location. It graces the northern end of the Gewandhaushotel’s west facade in Dresden’s Inner Old Town. Nestled beside a footpath, it merges seamlessly with the building’s outer wall. The fountain frames a gritted window.
Imagine the Dinglingerbrunnen in its prime. Dinglinger commissioned it after 1718. Originally, it stood in the courtyard of Dinglinger House. The house was near Neumarkt. Dinglinger likely designed the fountain himself. It spanned the courtyard’s entire width.
The Dinglingerbrunnen faced near destruction in 1945. Air raids devastated Dresden’s Neumarkt area. The fountain was buried under rubble. Yet, hope emerged from the debris. Salvage operations began in 1946. The last fragments were secured by 1949.
Werner Hempel, a sculptor, meticulously restored the Dinglingerbrunnen. He incorporated some additions. In 1966, it was reinstalled on the Gewandhaus’s facade. Walter Flemming recreated the golden tongue. He also made the crowning sphere.
Examine the sandstone structure closely. The fountain basin rests on a double-tailed, fish-like creature. Above the basin, an open shell forms a smaller pool. Two cherubs with cornucopias flank it. A male mask is set in the shell. Some say it is Triton’s head.
Notice the portal-like frame around the Dinglingerbrunnen. Pilasters rise on either side. Putti emerge from the consoles. Volutes with dolphins adorn the structure above. The keystone features Bacchus’s head. Above, four cherubs frame a double shell. A gilded pearl sits within.
For years, the Dinglingerbrunnen remained dry. The 2002 Elbe flood damaged its water pipes. It wasn’t until May 2008 that water flowed again. Today, the Dinglingerbrunnen stands as a testament to Dresden’s artistic heritage. It also shows the city’s spirit of rebirth. It embodies the fusion of art and history. It invites us to reflect on the past. It reminds us of the power of restoration.